The biggest plunge of the day at Randwick last Saturday came off, but it wasn’t an easy watch for those who’d piled in.
The TAB reported that the Port Macquarie galloper Victorem, trained by Jenny Graham, held 86 per cent of all investments in race two, the Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap (1000m). 
The sheer weight of money suggested that punters could look forward to an easy win for the $2.10 favourite, but such was not the case. 
Ridden by Ben Looker, the three-year-old began badly and was near the tail of the field. He then attempted to pig-root in running before getting involved in a scrimmage near the 600-metre mark. 
When Looker was finally able to get the gelding into the clear, he knuckled down to his task, finishing strongly to nab All Stand and score by a short head. 
“He was in a bit of trouble there for a little while,” Graham said. 
“I thought he was going to do the same as he did at Casino (where he’d finished fourth after pig-rooting at the start),” Graham said. “I was really worried. 
“Then he struck more interference coming to the turn and he left it to the last stride, but he got there. 
“It’s a big relief because I think he is a really nice racehorse.” 
Looker was also relieved.
“We jumped okay but then he tried to ‘crow-hop’ for a couple of strides,” he said. “Then we got into that scrimmage coming to the turn but luckily we were able to sail through it. 
“When they quickened on the corner they got him off the bridle but he was strong through the line. 
“He’s a good horse. He’s a three-to-four-length better horse than he showed today and when he gets to 1200 or 1400 metres he will improve.” 
Victorem has now won three of his four starts.
Graham had sent out another $2.10 favourite, Awesome Pluck, in race one, but on that occasion punters were not so fortunate. 
Ridden by Tye Angland, the three-year-old went straight to the lead and was given every chance but simply wasn’t strong enough at the finish to hold off Savatiano and Calculated. 
“I was still happy with his run — he just needs more racing to mature,” said Graham, before announcing that both Victorem and Awesome Pluck would now be set for the Country Championships series.
Zestful still has zip
Newcastle mare Zestful might be rising seven but she hasn’t lost her enthusiasm for racing, as she showed when she came from back in the field to win the listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) on the Randwick program.
Zestful ($13) hit the front near the 200 metres and held off the challenge of I Thought So to score in a photo. 
“She ran well last start and today with no weight on her back and Christian (Reith) finding the right part of the track, she got the job done,” said trainer Kris Lees. 
Zestful may now head to Doomben for Saturday week’s listed Nudgee Stakes, where a win would see her qualify for a start in the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Cup.
Lad too strong
In the final race on the Randwick program, the 1400-metre benchmark 82, Uptown Lad ($5.50) scored a game win for Wyong trainer Kim Waugh. 
Ridden by apprentice Jean Van Overmeire, the gelding was trapped three wide without cover for the entire journey, but was still able to sustain a long run in the straight and complete a hat-trick in defeating Savvan by half a length, with Siren’s Fury third.
Thommo on top
At Scone last Friday, Australia’s winningest jockey, the evergreen Robert Thompson, took the honours with four winners on the eight-race card, two of them for his good mate trainer Rod Northam.
That evening at the Canterbury meeting, Canberra trainer Luke Pepper struck a blow for the bush when he claimed the last race of the night, the 1100 metre, Benchmark 76, with Viceroy ($8.50), ridden by Tye Angland.
Winners for Widdo
At Albury last Saturday, Wodonga trainer Craig Widdison crossed the river to lead in three winners, two of which should prove worth following. 
The first of them, Mr Fergus, showed sharp acceleration to swamp the leaders over the final 100 metres of the 1400-metre maiden and record an easy win. 
The second, Lord Laurie, gave apprentice Chelsea McFarlane a winning double in taking out the 1175-metre Class 1. 
The four-year-old, who was resuming from a spell, scored a dominant win, careering away in the straight to score by nearly four lengths easing down. 
Significantly, there was a further gap of more than four lengths between second and third.
Provincial problems
Declining field numbers are causing many provincial trainers and administrators to fear for the future of provincial clubs. 
At the latest Wyong meeting, there were just 50 starters for the seven races, with insufficient numbers for each-way betting on four of those races. 
At Kembla Grange last Saturday there were just 62 runners — admittedly 10 more than the club’s previous meeting. 
At Gosford, meanwhile, the Pro-Ride surface is four years past its use-by date. To replace the track will cost $1.1 million, yet it seems there is no funding forthcoming. 
This despite the fact that Racing NSW recently boosted prizemoney for the Everest by $3 million, prompting one trainer to ask, “Why did they do that? They already had the slot-holders locked in for three years at $10 million. 
“They’ve spent $3 million unnecessarily while some tracks around the country are third-world standard.”